Menís Golf Finishes Third At SoCon; Three Earn All-SoCon Honors

Related Links

PINEHURST, N.C. – The No. 59 UNCG men’s golf team finished third overall at the 2014 Southern Conference Championships Tuesday at The National Golf Club in Pinehurst. The Spartans finished with a 13-over par 877, just four shots off the lead held by No. 47 Georgia Southern at 9-over par 873 and three shots behind No. 63 Chattanooga at 10-over par 874.

The third place showing is the Spartans’ second-best all-time finish and UNCG now awaits word on a possible at-large selection in the NCAA Regionals, a bid that would be the first in team history. The 2014 NCAA Men’s Golf Selection Show will be held May 5 at 10 a.m. live on the Golf Channel during “The Morning Drive.” The NCAA Regionals run May 15-17 at six different locations across the country, with the closest location in Raleigh at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course.

The Spartans’ three-round score of 877 (300-285-292) moved them up to third place in the standings. UNCG has only finished higher once in SoCon Championship history with a second place finish in 2011, while also placing third in 2010 and 2004.

Georgia Southern held on for the title with an 873 (296-284-293) to squeeze past Chattanooga at 874 (297-284-293), while first and second round leader Western Carolina fell to fourth with an 878 (294-282-302). Western Carolina’s T.J. Poston won the individual title with a 10-under par 206 (68-66-72) and Chattanooga’s Chris Robb was second at 8-under par 208 (74-69-65). Georgia Southern earned the SoCon’s automatic team bid into the NCAA Tournament, while Poston picked up the automatic individual bid into the postseason tournament.

For the first time in program history, the Spartans saw three members named to the All-Southern Conference team in freshman Carter Jenkins (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road), junior Roy Dixon (Salisbury, N.C./Salisbury) and sophomore Taylor Coalson (Dobson, N.C./North Surry). Three Georgia Southern players, two Chattanooga selections and awardees from Davidson and Western Carolina joined the three UNCG players on the 10-member All-SoCon team.

Jenkins was the lone freshman on the All-SoCon Team and was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. His selection marks the second straight year UNCG has picked up the honor as Coalson was tabbed top rookie last season, the first in program history. Jenkins owned the second-lowest stroke average on the season at 72.11 and posted six top 10 finishes and eight top 20 showings his rookie campaign.

Jenkins notched his sixth top-10 finish of the season this week, placing in a tie for sixth place overall with a 2-over par 218 (72-70-76). On the week, he posted nine birdies and an eagle to go along with nine bogeys and two double bogeys in the 54-hole event.

Dixon was named to the All-SoCon Team after posting five top 25 showings, including three top three finishes. He capped off the week with a career-best third place showing in the SoCon Tournament, posting a 3-under par 213. He was consistent all week long with three straight days of 1-under par 71. He finished with nine birdies and an eagle to go along with just eight bogeys in the three rounds.

Coalson notched his first All-SoCon selection after earning SoCon Freshman of the Year honors last season. He posted seven finishes in the top 25 this season and owned a 73.18 stroke average. He posted a 12-over par 228 this week with scores of 78-77-73, finishing with his best round of the week Tuesday at 1-over par.

Sophomore Luke Haithcock (Burlington, N.C./Williams) placed 28th on the week in just his second showing in the starting five this spring. He finished with a 10-over par 226, including his lowest round of the week Tuesday with an even-par 72 when he carded five birdies on the afternoon.

Freshman Jake McGlone (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin) rounded out the Spartans’ lineup with an 11-over par 227 in his first career SoCon Tournament. He opened with a tough first round at 10-over par 82 but rebounded with a 3-under par 69 in round two and a 4-over par 76 in the third and final round.